MADISON, WISCONSIN, November 20, 2024—The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) has published the family law subject matter outline for the NextGen bar exam. The outline is intended to inform stakeholders of the specific topics within family law to be assessed on the new exam starting in July 2028. These topics have been identified as those that are most essential for newly licensed lawyers.
From July 2026, when the NextGen exam is first administered, to February 2028, the exam will test the following foundational concepts and principles: business associations, civil procedure, constitutional law, contract law, criminal law, evidence, real property, and torts. Beginning in July 2028, family law will be added to this list, and will be tested in the same manner as the other foundational concepts and principles: topics designated in the subject matter outline with a star symbol will require examinees to rely solely on recalled knowledge and understanding of the topic, while topics without the star symbol may be tested with or without provision of legal resources. When these topics are tested without legal resources, the examinee is expected to rely on recalled knowledge and understanding that will enable the examinee to demonstrate recognition that the topic is at issue in the fact scenario.
From July 2026 through February 2028, legal resources will be provided whenever family law concepts are tested on the NextGen exam.
The family law outline was developed by NCBE’s Family Law Content Scope Panel. Members of the panel are distinguished experts in family law from across the US. An initial version of the outline was made available for public comment in July. NCBE announced the addition of family law to the list of foundational concepts and principles to be tested on the NextGen exam in October 2023, in response to feedback from jurisdiction high courts.
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About the National Conference of Bar Examiners
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1931. NCBE promotes fairness, integrity, and best practices in bar admissions for the benefit and protection of the public, in pursuit of its vision of a competent, ethical, and diverse legal profession. Best known for developing bar exam content used by 54 US jurisdictions, NCBE serves admission authorities, courts, the legal education community, and candidates by providing high-quality assessment products, services, and research; character investigations; and informational and educational resources and programs. In 2026, NCBE will launch the next generation of the bar examination, ensuring that the exam continues to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for competent entry-level legal practice in a changing profession. For more information, visit the NCBE website at https://www.ncbex.org.
About the Next Generation of the Bar Exam
Set to debut in July 2026, the NextGen bar exam will test a broad range of foundational lawyering skills, utilizing a focused set of clearly identified fundamental legal concepts and principles needed in today’s practice of law. The skills and concepts to be tested were developed through a multi-year, nationwide legal practice analysis, focused on the most important knowledge and skills for newly licensed lawyers. Designed to balance the skills and knowledge needed in litigation and transactional legal practice, the exam will reflect many of the key changes that law schools are making today. NCBE is committed to ensuring a systematic, transparent, and collaborative implementation process, informed by input from and participation by stakeholders, and guided by best practices and the professional standards for high-stakes testing. For more information, visit https://nextgenbarexam.ncbex.org/ or https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen.
